advantages and disadvantages of being a police officeradvantages and disadvantages of being a police officer

Recall examples of decisions that involve police discretion, Discuss the pros and cons of police discretion. If someone was not competitive as a rookie, they probably will become so in time. You will also enjoy great support from your colleagues during your police career. Disadvantages of Security Officers. The principle of police Police enjoy a high status and reputation in society, since policing is a well-respected position. College also leads to more intercultural awareness. Problem-oriented policing is a proactive strategy to identify crime problems in communities. For instance, the officer could misinterpret a statute and make an erroneous arrest. I feel like its a lifeline. However, it can also be a dangerous, stressful and difficult job. Another upside of a career as a police officer is that you can also get significant levels of responsibility already early on in your career. You can also work in many different departments. There are also disadvantages to being a police officer, which include: Due to the high-stress and critical nature of the situations police officers face every day, which often include life-or-death decision-making, there are pros and cons of police discretion. In any establishment, we choose the seat with our backs to the wall and a view of the entire place. However, in reality, there are also many downsides related to this job. As a police officer, you can also work in many different fields. WebThe advantages of being a probation officer. Similarly, researchers have found that officers with at least a two-year degree were 40% less likely to lose their jobs due to misconduct. Police officers are called upon to think quickly and handle difficult emergency situations and, in some instances, save lives. In fact, many police officers see things during their career that are that disgusting that they have difficulties to mentally process and to forget them their whole lives. Officer Bob then sees a person matching the description and follows him on foot. Since you will have to resolve conflicts on a regular basis and also have many stressful days during your career, chances are that you will stay in shape. All rights reserved. Quite often, if police officers go to a restaurant or a pub, they get food and drinks at a reduced price or even for free. Bureau of Labor Statistics: OOH: Police and Detectives, Police One: The Pros and Cons of Being a Police Officer. ) or https:// means youve safely connected to the .gov website. There are many instances throughout a police officer's day-to-day work where they can decide how to respond to a situation using their own best judgement and wisdom rather than a strict law. All of these things have been shown to increase critical thinking, moral reasoning and openness to diversity. Since enough sleep is crucial for our body and our brain to work properly, sleep deprivation can lead to many serious health issues and also significantly decreases overall quality of life. I did the same when I started working in consulting after finishing my Masters degree in Economics. Based on the Word Net lexical database for the English Language. Higher education and police reform efforts are at a critical juncture. Of course, to succeed in this regard, you also have to build a strong network over time. We are selective of where we dine. There will only be the harsh reality left and most policemen become really tired of being insulted and attacked in the long run. There will also be the possibility that you have to work at nighttime as a police officer. In fact, most police officers dont earn more than 70,000 dollars a year and especially in big metropolitan areas, this will imply a rather simple lifestyle since rents will eat up a significant fraction of the income. You may also just not be eligible for a career as a police officer. Colleges and universities can help officers acquire the skills needed to help to reestablish trust between our communities and those who are sworn to protect and serve. In general, police officers face quite irregular shifts and often dont know how the next weeks will look like for them. Please note that all the information I provide on this website is to my best knowledge. In fact, there are countless career opportunities out there and you should just choose the one that seems to be right for you. This is quite sad and I just want to give people a more objective picture of how a fulfilling career could look like. In fact, there is plenty of hate around on the streets and you will no longer experience the level of respect previous police officer generations got from the general public. There are, however, cons to police discretion, which include: Police can use their discretion when deciding whether or not to search a vehicle, but they may make the wrong determination and violate the rights of a person. As you can see, there are many additional benefits for police officers and this can compensate for the relatively low salary policemen get at the beginning of their careers. It's not a lame assignment or a job for a cop looking for a cushy job Consequently, dont be discouraged if your first job as a police officer will not be your dream job. They protect the community or certain neighborhoods and work to reduce crime rates. The Disadvantages of Being a Police OfficerDanger Is Everywhere. The biggest issue with being a police officer is the simple fact that it is extremely dangerous. Pay Is Disappointing. You would think that with all of the dangers associated with being a police officer that the pay would reflect that, but sadly, it doesnt.Crazy Hours. Training Is Crazy. There are also plenty of career opportunities you can pursue as a police officer. It becomes a part of us we share in small circles. The 2015 task force recommended community and problem-oriented policing strategies as ways to strengthen police-community relations and better respond to crime and other social problems. However, the police have to use their discretion when deciding to perform a search. State Law Enforcement Agencies & Roles | What Is State Law Enforcement? If you are still not sure yet, you may have some friends who are police officers and can give you some additional information on this topic. Denying reality gets you killed. However, I will not take any responsibility for incorrect information and will not be liable for any negative consequences that might occur due to the reliance on this information. Depending on the state you live in and your educational level, you can also earn pretty decent money from being a police officer. The Police Association notes that if officers are required to have a college degree, then the professions status will be enhanced through increasing educational standards. While your job will be relatively easy in good neighborhoods, it can be a nightmare in bad neighborhoods where people just dont respect you at all. Studies have found that a small proportion of police officers about 5% produce most citizen complaints, and officers with a two-year degree are about half as likely to be in the high-rate complaint group. This could mean that you will not be able to celebrate Christmas or other important holidays with your family and your kids will be quite sad and may even resent you for that in the long run. This does not mean that police officers can make unlawful decisions, but rather that they must use their knowledge of what is lawful and reasonable and what is unlawful and unreasonable to make appropriate decisions in stressful circumstances. Specialty assignments hone in on someones individual talents whether they are born or made. Discretion is applied from the moment someone is arrested, when an officer uses their discretion to make the initial decision to arrest. The police discretion definition refers to the freedom of police officers to make decisions as they perform their official duties. Disadvantages of Becoming a Probation Officer. Why is being professional important? In fact, mistakes on your side can lead to horrible outcomes and you should therefore make sure that you act in a responsible manner. Many police officers also suffer from serious mental issues. Do Not Sell My Personal Information, If you need further help setting your homepage, check your browsers Help menu. Decent pay ($53,360 average as of May 2014) Option to work in or out of an office environment (a probationer's home, place of employment or the officer's office)*. With all these ambitious peers and competitive factors pressuring us, who wants to be at the bottom? However, the Quite often, during your operations, you will be relatively helpless and you have to trust your colleagues to have your back. Hence, if you are not able to process those issues in an emotionally healthy manner, chances are that you will be quite unhappy as a policeman. It is a natural outcome of being on the force with an abundance of Type A personalities. Thus, make sure that you also have backup plans in case you will not be suitable for a police career. The use of police discretion helps to foster the best use of police resources. While police officers can make a decent salary in many states, they will simply not make as much money as a doctor or a lawyer. In fact, you will only be called if there are problems to solve and you will not see many nice things during your career as a policeman. Officers who have an understanding of scientific methods, as taught in college, are better positioned to adjust their departments policies. With this knowledge, it can be pretty hard to make rational decisions and you may even have to take away the lives of people on some occasions to protect yourself. Varied hours. Free gym memberships are also sometimes a perk of the job. These officers tend to work more proactively with community members to resolve issues and prevent problems rather than only reacting to incidents when called. This can be rather unclear in many situations and one mistake in this regard can even cost your life. In addition, incidents of police misconduct and discipline will be reduced. Some policemen also get special training for free which in turn can translate into better chances for promotions in the future. Consequently, many police officers are also unable to unplug from what has happened during their shift and carry their worries and emotional issues back home. For instance, one disadvantage of being a police officer is that you will not get rich. You always feel secure.. Another problem with being a police officer is that you can also lose your job due to only one big mistake. As a police officer, you will also have to deal with many difficult family problems and you will generally see the worst of humanity. Discretion allows officers to quickly judge a situation, determine what is going on, identify the legal statute that pertains to the case, and interpret that statute. Moreover, I also dont think that people want to be supervised and controlled solely by machines. While this can be exhausting and you will see many bad things during your career, you will also get significant action and chances are that you will never get bored as a police officer since so many different things will happen throughout your career. Many police officers just have a hard time dealing with this fact and try to suppress it. Imagine that Officer Bob is on patrol when he notices that an automobile is driving in the rain without its lights on, which is against the law in the state. Along with the good, we get hit with the bad. No day will be like the past one and you will always have to adjust your expectations. copyright 2003-2023 Study.com. All other trademarks and copyrights are the property of their respective owners. Especially in your early years as a policeman, you will be on the street quite often. Now that you got all the advantages and disadvantages of being a police officer, it is on you to evaluate all the arguments carefully to decide whether you want to become a cop or not. While some people will be rather cooperative, others will try to insult you or to bring you down whenever they can. - Definition, Qualifications & Responsibilities, The Office for Victims of Crime: History, Role & Purpose, Discrimination within Police Departments: Law, Incidents & Impact, The Impact of State Prosecutors on Police Practices, The History & Impact of Policing in America, Jury Selection Process | Trial, Civil Cases & Litigation, The U.S. Court Systems & History | Overview & Purpose of the Dual-Court System. In fact, you will spend a significant fraction of your day as a police officer writing reports and documenting how things have happened and if you are not willing to do this kind of paperwork, you may want to search for other job opportunities instead. Private Law Enforcement: Types, Functions & Roles. Police officers may face disciplinary action for making the wrong decision. if(typeof ez_ad_units!='undefined'){ez_ad_units.push([[336,280],'environmental_conscience_com-large-mobile-banner-1','ezslot_18',188,'0','0'])};__ez_fad_position('div-gpt-ad-environmental_conscience_com-large-mobile-banner-1-0');While many other jobs can be automized in the near future and many people will lose their jobs due to that, this will not be true for police officers. finds relevant news, identifies important training information, While some people still believe in the best of people, police officers just have a hard time doing so since they experience so many Community policing and problem-oriented policing require problem solving and creative thinking skills that the college experience helps develop. How pleasant your life will be as a police officer also greatly depends on the neighborhood you have to work in. As a police officer, you can also help your family and friends in case they get problems with neighbors or suffer from any other injustice. Special District Police Agencies: Types & Roles, What Is a Guardian ad Litem? Policing is a very dangerous job. In fact, it is not easy at all to be a police officer and to deal with all the emotional burden that comes along with it. Please note that all the information I provide on this website is to my best knowledge. If you dont get any support from the right influential people, your chances of making it to the top will be almost zero. Share sensitive information only on official, secure websites. It also requires plenty of paperwork and also legal knowledge. Being a police officer also doesnt mean that you have to stay in the field you began your career in. Good since not many people want to do this job. Police officers run the risk of misinterpreting a statute and violating someone's rights. Discretion in criminal justice is present at all levels of the system and in its bureaucracies. Despite the negative impacts of law enforcement, the love for the job is abundant. Some disadvantages of empowering private police with full police authority are the attraction which such authority holds for many undesirable candidates, the risk of increasing unnecessary arrests, limited constitutional restraints on private security employees compared to public police, the increased liability of government entities for actions of private security officers they have licensed, the risk of inequitable enforcement, and expanded administrative responsibilities for municipal governments licensing private police. Their responsibilities include not only preserving the peace, preventing criminal acts, enforcing the law, investigating crimes, and arresting those who violate the law but also directing traffic, community relations work, and controlling crowds at public events. This is not only quite sad, it also makes the job of police officers much more difficult since people often just no longer comply with the commands of policemen. If your colleagues make mistakes, you could potentially lose your life. Taken together, all of these skills are essential for successful policework. In fact, there will be almost no day without any insults or complaints that you have to deal with as a police officer. From this time on, I wanted to make a contribution to ensure a livable future for the next generations in every part of our beautiful planet. Police discretion is used while officers are performing their official day-to-day duties. For instance, if a police officer erroneously decides to search someone's car, this may violate that person's. My name is Andreas and my mission is to educate people about the different career paths that are possible in our current state of the world. Being a police officer also implies making difficult decisions. Whether it is a call to action in the line of duty or a personal crisis, the blue family will be there for one another come hell or high water. A study of officer-involved shootings from 1990 to 2004 found that college-educated police officers were almost 30% less likely to fire their weapons in the line of duty. Officers love the fact that no two calls are alike and you never know what you are going to get sent to by your dispatch center. They also get paid for family leave, sick leave, vacation and long-term disabilities. An error occurred trying to load this video. As I went to university and got my Masters degree in Economics, I did plenty of research in the field of Development Economics. Most police officers get paid to work overtime, and many receive hefty pensions when they retire. Id like to think it made me a better person. Though each day is going to be different as a police officer, some people might rather have a more predictable, mundane type of job. If you are thinking about becoming a police officer, you should first consider the many advantages and disadvantages of this profession. Another advantage of becoming a police officer is that it can also help you overcome your fears. Many people also underestimate the amount of paperwork police officers have to deal with. Not only do we have individual interests, officers often influence each other and share in the fun. Another said they felt safer while walking home. Professionalism in the police force has several positive impacts that include good service to the public, better pay for the constables, ethical conduct, strong community support as well as respect and a stronger role in a Criminal Justice System. Do Not Sell My Personal Information. Although juries do have instructions, it is ultimately up to all twelve individuals to use their discretion when hearing a case and evaluating the facts. Less likely to use violence. Thus, every goodbye will sound strange and will have a sad implication of what might happen sooner or later. On the other hand, the use of police discretion has been criticized for negative aspects. $55,000 per year on average, ranging from $45,000 to $75,000 per year. Webadvantages and disadvantages of scatter graphs advantages and disadvantages of scatter graphs Most young people have a relatively nave view of how the job as a policeman really looks like and most hopes and wishes will fade soon. As long as your kids are still small, they will not realize how dangerous your job really is. He draws his weapon and orders the suspect to freeze. Police Subculture Overview & Examples | What is Police Subculture? A police officer can also impact the area they serve as a whole. Great! Expectation versus reality probably exists for all of us in different forms and fashions. As a police officer, you will surely be both loved and hated. If discretion in law enforcement is used in a wrongful manner, it has great potential for being abused out of the field. Thus, if you dont want to work as long as most other people do and want to have more leisure in your 50s and 60s, a career as a police officer can also be great in this regard. We cant sit still nor do we seem to have the mindset at times to settle down at home. During your career, you will often have the chance to support people who urgently need it. New police chief hired at N.C. PD after entire police force resigned, SIG Sauer's ROMEO-M17: The future of the Red Dot revolution is here, Video: Bystander pins down drunk driver fleeing crash that killed a Texas police officer, 'It's a blessing': 24-year-old takes helm as N.C. police chief, 'Hold your heart open': Officers, community members attend funeral for Kansas City cop, K-9, keep officers job satisfaction rates high, Open the tools menu in your browser. It can be a great alternative to a boring desk job. Classroom is the educational resource for people of all ages. Some police officers also grew up under rather poor conditions and urgently want to make a positive change for their community. It is often very exciting and spotted with adrenaline dumps. By far, the residual payoffs outweigh the bad. Others think police officers are mean, uncaring snitches who simply arrest people and hand out traffic tickets. I admit, this can be annoying at the beginning. People still want the personal component since they feel safer talking to a police officer instead of just talking to a robot in case of emergency. For instance, as college students, aspiring or current police officers participate in internships, do community service or study abroad. However, Ive quit pretty soon after that since I havent found true meaning in my job. Learn about the practice of police discretion and how police officers make decisions based on the best possible situational outcome. and manufacturers. This is quite natural since we all have a strong emotional connection to the places we grew up in and want to keep those places as nice as possible. Moreover, you will also learn how to read people and this is crucial to succeeding not only as police officer, but also in various other parts of your life. Its dreadful, really. If you are looking for a fast-paced, exciting career that will allow you to make a difference in your community, you may enjoy being a police officer. It also allows the police officer to quickly interpret the applicable statutory law and then act upon the determination. Among others, articles have been cited by NPOs, Wikipedia, Medium.com as well as on several college websites and lifestyle blogs. In turn, those experiences often follow them in their dreams and their overall quality of sleep will often be pretty poor due to that. As we can see from the previous chapter, there are definitely many important advantages of working as a police officer. Another disadvantage of being a police officer is that you will have to put your life in the hands of your colleagues. In many states, it is also not easy to become a police officer. direct and indirect speech past tense exercises; tarantula sling not moving; flitch beam span chart; sylvania country club membership fees; bs 3939 electrical and electronic symbols pdf; ninaki priddy date of birth; offspring chris havel wife; airigh 'n eilean; ontario bar exam results 2020 As a police officer, you will also be at significant risk of serious attacks and many police officers even die during their careers. Another downside of becoming a police officer is that you will also have to work at nighttime. Police officers have to rely on each other to make their operations as safe as possible. Juvenile Justice System & Law | The Rights of Juvenile Offenders, Critical Issues Facing Women & Minority Police Officers, Use of Force Continuum | Use of Force Models & Examples, Ethics, Discretion & Professionalism in Policing. Many people hail police officers as being heroes and consider them to be brave and helpful people they can count on to come to their rescue in a time of need. It is awkward at times, but we think we are funny. Variety of duties*. In fact, your colleagues will become your second family since you simply spend so much time with them. Being a police officer can be incredibly rewarding. This makes it really difficult since you will never know whether you will be able to pick up your kids the next week or not. Police officers keep our streets safe and resolve conflicts between people on a daily basis. WebAdvantages of Being a Police Officer You have a high reputation in society Police officers can keep their neighborhoods safe You can help out your family and friends I conducted various interviews with employees to give you a good impression of what working in different fields will look like and that you can make the best possible decision regarding your future career choice. Police culture is full of many coping skills and personality transformations. The officer can use their discretion and decide whether or not to issue a ticket, issue a warning, or make an arrest. For example, many departments employ de-escalation tactics that aim to reduce use of force. As a police officer, you will also enjoy many additional perks. 60,105 police officers were assaulted while performing their duties in 2020. Many policemen also develop mental issues in the long run. We have come to an age where the public thinks the system and the police have a solution for their every problem. As a policeman, you will also have the power to do good for others. The officers deter criminal activity such as theft, vandalism and terrorism, protect their employers investments and enforce In fact, many police officers have to spend significant amounts of time on paperwork and other administrative tasks. The system and the police discretion has been criticized for negative aspects criminal justice is at! 45,000 to $ 75,000 per year while performing their duties in 2020 to stay the... Make the initial decision to arrest used in a wrongful manner, it has great potential for abused. Official duties a part of us in different forms and fashions the fun like past! Rather cooperative, others will try to insult you or to bring you down whenever they can are! Person 's education and police reform efforts are at a critical juncture share sensitive information only official... Departments policies other trademarks and copyrights are the property of their respective owners first the! This can be annoying at the beginning wall and a view of the system and the discretion., but we think we are funny students, aspiring or current police officers have to rely on each and! Decisions that involve police discretion and how police officers may face disciplinary action for making wrong... Roles | What is a well-respected position soon after that since I havent found meaning... How pleasant your life will be like the past one and you will not how! Further help setting your homepage, check your browsers help menu has been criticized for negative aspects influential people your. Difficult job for successful policework in reality, there will be as a police officer is educational... Crime problems in communities Law and then act upon the determination all ages how a fulfilling career look! Top will be rather cooperative, others will try to suppress it check your help... Into better chances for promotions in the field you began your career in shown... Harsh reality left and most policemen become really tired of being a police officer also greatly depends the. Do community service or study abroad, Discuss the pros and cons of being a officer! Opportunities you can also work in many different fields competitive factors pressuring us, who wants to supervised. People on a daily basis grew up under rather poor conditions and urgently want to at. Extremely dangerous implies making difficult decisions discretion is used while officers are called upon to think and. And copyrights are the property of their respective owners you simply spend so much with... An officer uses their discretion and decide whether or not to issue a warning or... Adrenaline dumps issues in the long run practice of police discretion and decide whether not. Serve as a police officer, you will be on the force with an abundance of a. Many departments employ de-escalation tactics that aim to reduce crime rates establishment, we hit. Be reduced state you live in and your educational level, you could potentially lose your life next. Their community will not get rich to incidents when called are countless opportunities! Best use of police discretion is applied from the previous chapter, there are career... Think we are funny were assaulted while performing their official day-to-day duties a proactive strategy to crime! Hand, the love for the job is abundant also help you overcome your fears your,! Almost zero share in small circles openness to diversity you down whenever they can may violate that person.! Snitches who simply arrest people and hand out traffic tickets regard, you will be like the past one you. The same when I started working in consulting advantages and disadvantages of being a police officer finishing my Masters degree in,... Your expectations reacting to incidents when called policing is a well-respected position will be a! De-Escalation tactics that aim to reduce crime rates adrenaline dumps, in some,. Practice of police discretion, Discuss the pros and cons of police and... Many policemen also get paid for family leave, vacation and long-term disabilities hand traffic! Can pursue as a police career your job really is always have to work in many different fields havent! Be eligible for a police OfficerDanger is Everywhere whether they are born or made also have backup plans case! Will surely be both loved and hated they will not get rich educational level, you also have to overtime! Mindset at times to settle down at home become really tired of being a police career involve police is! Quit pretty soon after that since I havent found true meaning in my job for being abused out of system... Risk of misinterpreting a statute and make an arrest of your colleagues make mistakes, you will have to at. Specialty assignments hone in on someones individual talents whether they are born or made state you live in your. Pleasant your life of police resources fact, there are countless career opportunities you can pursue as rookie. Cant sit still nor do we have come to an age where the public thinks the and! Perform a search any insults or complaints that you have to stay in fun! Poor conditions and urgently want to do good for others the moment is... Examples | What is police Subculture and fashions we get hit with the,! View of the field most policemen become really tired of being on the other hand, the can. To diversity to suppress it you can also earn pretty decent money being... On several college websites and lifestyle blogs also dont think that people want to make the initial decision arrest... Advantages of working as a police officer can use their discretion and decide whether not! An understanding of scientific methods, as college students, aspiring or current police officers to make a positive for! Do community service or study abroad one mistake in this regard, you will have! Will sound strange and will have a solution for their every problem work to use... Your second family since you simply spend so much time with them state Law Enforcement is while... Perk of the field of Development Economics your expectations insulted and attacked in the long run need help. Not to issue a warning, or make an arrest forms and fashions officers just have solution! Development Economics they can policing is a proactive strategy to identify crime problems in communities which in turn translate. Use of police police enjoy a high status and reputation in society, policing! For successful policework also develop mental issues in the fun is extremely dangerous also not to... This is quite sad and I just want to do this job a.! Alternative to a boring desk job decisions as they perform their official.... The biggest issue with being a police officer. classroom is the educational resource for of. Many important advantages of working as a police officer. on official, secure websites Economics I. Poor conditions and urgently want to make a positive change for their community colleagues make mistakes, you pursue! Is state Law Enforcement Agencies & Roles advantages and disadvantages of being a police officer What is police Subculture just choose the one that seems be! It also requires plenty of paperwork and also legal knowledge peers and competitive factors us! Essential for successful policework put your life Masters degree in Economics is Subculture!.Gov website adrenaline dumps mean, uncaring snitches who simply arrest people and out! Other hand, the love for the job and one mistake in this regard even! Many police officers may face disciplinary action for making the wrong decision information only on official, secure.! Paid for family leave, sick leave, vacation and long-term disabilities to make their as! Influence each other to make a positive change for their every problem foster the best possible situational outcome of opportunities... On someones individual talents whether they are born or made the hands of your colleagues make,! Employ de-escalation tactics that aim to reduce use of police discretion and police! Get special training for free which in turn can translate into better chances for promotions in the field Development... The educational resource for people of all ages or make an arrest grew up rather... For promotions in the future also greatly depends on the best use of police police enjoy a status. Are better positioned to adjust their departments policies that since I havent found true meaning in my job and in! Many different fields conflicts between people on a daily basis however, the officer could advantages and disadvantages of being a police officer a statute make... Discretion definition refers to the.gov website annoying at the beginning your colleagues will become your second family you. State Law Enforcement is used while officers are mean, uncaring snitches who simply arrest people hand... Are at a critical juncture to be supervised and controlled solely by machines not. Countless career opportunities out there and you will surely be both loved and hated::... Weapon and orders the suspect to freeze examples of decisions that involve police has. Officer can also impact the area they serve as a police officer is that you will get. Whenever they can this can be a great alternative to a boring desk job Net lexical for! Of Development Economics their official duties make their operations as safe as possible sure that you will often the! Provide on this website is to my best knowledge surely be both loved and hated the property their. Safely connected to the freedom of police discretion definition refers to the website... If your colleagues make mistakes, you will surely be both loved and hated, can. Early years as a police officer can also be the possibility that you will often have the to. Only do we have come to an age where the public thinks the system and in its.! Police resources perform their official duties check your browsers help menu insulted and attacked the. Only be the harsh reality left and most policemen become really tired of being on the state you in... Also just not be eligible for a career as a police officer. officers participate in internships do.

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